I understand that we are 4 games into an 82 game season. I also understand that this team is still gelling, and that a shortened training camp and pre-season have not a had a positive effect.

Having said that, Sid has looked remarkably pedestrian and surprisingly frustrated over the first 4 games of the year. He hasn't been very creative, his decision making hasn't been the best and in general, I'm not seeing the fire from him that I'm used to seeing.

What does everyone think about this? I can't believe it's linemates. If you can put up 100 points with the likes of Racchi and Army, surely you can at least duplicate that effort with better wingers like Dupuis/Fedex and Satan, right?

I'm undoubtedly being a bit of an alarmist, but is anyone else noticing a difference so far this year?

Last edited by Paekman on Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

canaan wrote:i guess you're right, if you assume that fedex/satan are better than army :pop:

I do. I suppose others may think differently, but Sid clearly propped up guys like Andy Hilbert, Recchi, Army, etc. The gist of what I'm saying is that he's done more with less, but my main point was that he seems a lot less intense and a lot more frustrated than usual, and we're only 4 games in.

we have no transition because our 2 best transition defensemen are out and they're being replaced by young, uncomfortable players. and we have no power play for verious reasons. hence, no scoring.

also, every team is defending sid differently this year. they're pressuring him A LOT more than last year (especially on the PP), which should leave other guys open, but they're either not getting available for passes or sid isn't ready for the pressure.

Sid is fine~ he has that jump/hop ability back that he couldn't use against detroit/play offs. Passing last night great, but on the PP him and Geno high risk occassionally. Made a couple nicedefensive plays too.

I think teams are starting to also figure out how to play Sid and Malkin. But, ultimately, both will be fine. They may start off slow, but they will really turn up the heat in my opinion. On a positive note, it's pretty great that how we are getting goals from unknown sources. Guys like Zigomanis, Dupuis, Scuderi, Orpik, Kennedy. It's a sign of a great team in the making that we are still doing enough offensively without getting much help from 87,71,81,11. This team will be perfectly alright.

shmenguin wrote:we have no transition because our 2 best transition defensemen are out and they're being replaced by young, uncomfortable players. and we have no power play for verious reasons. hence, no scoring.

I would consider this point half right. Nine times out of ten, Crosby is on the ice at even strength with the Scuderi-Gill pairing, which is disguistingly inept at moving the puck.

Guys the European trip couldn't have helped anyone. Our team had to completely adjust its play the first few games with no Gonch on the PP. Realistically in this new NHL I don't see one player being able to win the scoring title year-in-and-year-out. When Sid did win the Title Geno was on his wing a lot. When Geno almost won it, he was the number 1 guy. I don't know if either of them can win the scoring title centering lines 1, and 1a. It would just require too much scoring.

i agree with the initial post. sid looks way off of his usual self. i'm wondering how much off season work he was actually able to put in with his ankle still healing. if people want to laugh this off and blame his linemates as usual, then that is unfortunate. he needs to turn things around, stat.